Noah Wolfe of Cherokee displays the first-place trophy he won in the North Carolina School Bus Driver's Rodeo recently in Raleigh. Wolfe, who has driven school buses, charter buses and trucks for the Cherokee Boys Club for 29 years, will represent North Carolina in national competition July 19 and 20 in New York City.
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Image yourself behind the wheel of an 8-foot-wide bus trying to back into a tight, 10-foot squeeze between four 45-foot-long buses.
You only have 1-foot leeway on either side as you begin to back, but then the space narrows, leaving you with a margin of 2 inches on the right and left. Your rear bumper must come within an inch of the stop marker. Oh, yes, and you are being timed. Add this to your sweaty palms and furrowed brow: All eyes are on your every move because you are being judged. One judge sits up front in the bus with you, while two others are outside grading your slightest wheel movement. Noah Wolfe of Cherokee drove away with flying colors as he placed first in the N.C. School Bus Driver's Rodeo held in Raleigh recently. A 29-year employee of the Cherokee Boys Club, Wolfe will represent the state in national competition July 19 and 20 in New York City. "Noah is the first person from Jackson County to ever win the state title and advance to nationals," said Glenda Slagle, driver education specialist with the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles School Bus and Traffic Safety Section. „Noah is a very safety, conscious driver, always striving to do his best," said Slagle, who represents Haywood, Jackson and the Qualla Boundary. Although he has driven school buses, charter buses and trucks for the Cherokee Boy Club for many years, in 1996 he was given additional responsibilities as driver training and safety director for the club. In 1999, Wolfe was selected as the bus and truck department supervisor, and two years ago he became department manager.
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